5 reasons to travel to Indonesia

Indonesia-temple
Asia is one of the favorite continents of European tourists. More and more people are encouraged to explore it, among other things because of how cheap it is to stay in countries like Thailand or Vietnam. Of course, everything will depend on the type of trip you have planned and the exact area you want to go to.

Today I will focus on Indonesia , which in case you did not know is the country with the largest number of tropical islands in the world (between 17,400 and 17,500). Those who have been there know that it is worth visiting for reasons like the ones I mention below.

1- There is Bali, one of the most beautiful islands in the world

Bali
Who has never dreamed of going to Bali? Known as the Island of the Gods for the large number of temples it houses, it is a place full of paradisiacal beaches from which one never wants to leave. It is one of the perfect destinations to enjoy an unforgettable honeymoon.

2- The Bromo volcano is a spectacle

volcano-Bromo
On the famous island of Java, where it is said that the first homo erectus lived, the Bromo volcano remains a huge active caldera that is part of the fire belt that is exhibited by the Pacific. It measures 2,392 meters high and is of a natural attraction that dazzles all tourists. Of course, you have to be careful with scams if you do not go on a guided tour, since the inhabitants of the neighboring towns do everything possible to earn money at your expense. You have to know how to negotiate and not be fooled. What is non-negotiable is the entrance fee to the Bromo National Park, which costs about 15 euros during the week and about 22 euros on weekends.

3- Raja Ampat, an oasis for diving fans

Raja-Ampat
A photograph serves to describe the beauty that one can find in Raja Ampat, especially if you are fond of diving. It is in the West Papua area and comprises more than 1,500 islands. Its location is perfect, since it is right in the center of the coral triangle, which allows you to enjoy a spectacular marine biodiversity (turtles, sharks, mantas…). Of course, the most curious animal of all is the dudong, which is a mixture of cetacean and elephant that can only be seen in the corals of Indonesia.

4- The priceless sunsets at the Borobudur Temple

Borobudur
Indonesia is full of temples, and one of the most beautiful and curious is Borobudur. It is the largest Buddhist temple on the planet and to visit it you have to go to the island of Java. It measures about 35 meters high and to finish it they had to work for 75 years. When they start? It is believed that in the year 800 AD It is a UNESCO world heritage monument and has the peculiarity of being built between two volcanoes and two rivers. In total there are six square platforms with three circular platforms on top and a total of 504 statues of Buddhas. The temple is beautiful, as is enjoying a sunset from there.

5- Its gastronomy

Kopi-Luwak
You will like everything you are going to see in Indonesia, but this Asian country will also be able to conquer you by mouth. Of course, you are prepared to eat rice , since it is the most consumed food in the country by far (normal considering that there are huge extensions of rice fields). Rice is served with chicken, soy or vegetables.

If you are in Bali and you want to eat cheaply, know that you can fill your belly properly for only 3 euros. The most famous dishes on the island are mie goreng and nasi goreng. The first is fried noodles with vegetables, fried egg and chicken, while the second substitutes noodles for rice.

It should come as no surprise to find many restaurants that are not exactly Indonesian. There are Chinese, Japanese, Italians … and even Spanish.

If you are going to order a fruit smoothie, which can cost you one euro if you know where to buy it, think that the best fruits are mango and pineapple. And if you want a good coffee, have the most typical Indonesian one, which is called Kopi Luwak . A cup costs about 5 euros and you don’t want to know where it comes from, since to get the pulp you have to wait for some animals similar to cats (civets) to eat the grains and expel them, since their digestive enzymes degrade the coating and they end up with proteins that give it a bad taste, making it a coffee that sells for 400 euros per kilo (after separating the excrement and processing it, of course).

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